ENDING THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN & GIVING VOICE TO THE VICTIMS

A Strategic Partnership Collective Agenda

Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children2018-06-19T16:50:25+00:00

Project Description

Working Group Ending Sexual Exploitation of Children

Issue

While no precise statistics for Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC) are available, evidence shows increasing vulnerability of children to SEC and the crime is outpacing law enforcement and child protection measures; no region, country or child is immune; and there is no typical victim, offender or offending mode.

SEC takes many and rapidly mutating forms: through Prostitution, Trafficking, Online, Travel and tourism, Early and forced marriage; various combinations and interactions between these forms, causing lasting victims and survivors’ trauma. The rapid and evolving nature of the victims of SEC has outpaced international law, resulting in a child protection lacuna. The Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) does not anticipate main drivers of SEC. In a rapidly connected world of information communication, technology and Internet, perpetrators use this industry infrastructure to victimize children. Remote parts of the planet are now within reach due to cheaper and easier travel, proliferation of forms of travel and tourism and new dimension of travel- online bookings, voluntourism, peer to peer accommodation arrangements. Offenders’ opportunities and venues have drastically increased, and more children are victims or at risk.

States Parties to the CRC and OPSC need guidance on how to address SEC and their obligations under the CRC and under the OPSC, to fulfill their obligations to protect and uphold the rights of all children.

The Working Group Ending Sexual Exploitation of Children

The Working Group Ending Sexual Exploitation of Children contributes to the efforts by mobilizing strategic partnership (Member States, UN entities, law enforcement agencies, civil society, private sector and children themselves – particularly those who have been directly affected by SEC) to collectively define an agenda for Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC).

Objectives

Raise the profile of and promote greater attention to SEC on the legal and political agenda of Human rights mechanisms

Enhance partnerships with and facilitate synergies with Civil Society Organisations with the aim of ending SEC and amplifying the voices of child victims

Promote integration of SEC into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation and monitoring plan

Render SEC visible and a priority for action on the agenda of Global Partnerships/Alliances/initiatives/ UN Forum on Business and Human Rights